Tire-pressure indicator and electric signal.



G. C. CLEVELAND. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR AND ELECTRIC SIGNAL.APPLIUATION FILED MAY 6. 1912. RENEWED MAR. 28, 1914. 1,1 17,329;Patented N0v.'17,1914.

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TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR AND ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6 1912. RENEWED MAR. 28, 1914. 1,1 17,329.

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C. U. CLEVELAND. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR AND ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1912. RENEWED MAR.28,1914. 1,1 17,329.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 3.

5/ afa /ew/a CHARLES c. CLEVELAND,

OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

TIRE-PRESSURE INDICATOR AND ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

- Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented NOV. 1'7, 1914.

Application filed May 6, 1912, Serial No. 695,336. Renewed March 28,1914. Serial No. 828,098.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. CLEvE LAND, citizen of the United States,residing at Boulder, county of Boulder, and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in, Tire-PressureIndicators and Electric Signals; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it 'appertains to make and use thesame, refings, and to the characters ofreference' marked thereon, whichform a part of this erence being had to the accompanyingdrawspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in tire pressure indicators andsignals, my object being to provide a device which shall automaticallynotify the user of the automobile or other pneumatically tired vehiclethat the tire has become soft or partially deflated. The object to beaccomplished by a device of this character is to avoid the possibilityof running a machine for a considerable time with a tire sufiicientlysoft to result in serious injury to the tire before its condition isdiscovered.

In my improved construction, each wheel of the vehicle is equipped witha rod which extends from the hub of the wheel to the tire, its outerextremity bearing against the inner tube of the pneumatic tire. 'Thisrod has a limited longitudinal movement within a tube interposed betweenthe rim and the hub of the wheel. The inner extremity of the rodnormally engages a plunger which I is acted on b a spring undersufficient tension to actuate the plunger when unlocked by the outwardmovement of the rod.

The movement of the plunger, when released, acts on a contact mounted ina stationary member adjacent the hub of the wheel, the extremity of thiscontact normally protruding sufiiciently to be engaged by the plungerwhen the latter is extended. The shape of the normally protrudingextremity of the contact is such as to cause.

the plunger, as the wheelturns, to move the contact inwardly to engagewith an insulated electrode whereby an electrical circuit is closed inwhich a signal is located: This signal may be either visual, audible orboth, as may be desired.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed todescribe the same shown on the hub in detail, reference being made tothe accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a top-plan view of the running-gear of anautomobile equipped with my improved construction.

Flg. 2 is a sectional view cutting a wheel.

and hub equipped with my improvement,

a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a fragsectional, detail view taken throughwhere the plunger is located, the

mentary,

parts being shown on a still larger scale.

similar view, the rod, however, being projected outwardly whereby it iscaused. to indent a soft inner tube. Fig. 7 is a view illustrating themanner of applying this device to a forward wheel of a vehicle. Fig. 8is adetail partly in cross section of the make-and-break device showingthe parts in.

position to make electric connection.

, The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all theviews.

Let;the numeral 5 designate the tire, 6 the tire-rim, the wheel mountedon the rear axle 11 of a vehicle. Mounted at its outer extremities inthe felly and hub is a tube 9, the felly and hub being provided withrecesses 10 and 12 respectively which the ends of the tube engage. Therecess 10 is sufficiently deep to permit the insertion of one end of thetube while its opposite end is outside of the hub. The outer end of thetube is threaded as shown at 13 and a nut 14 is applied thereto.

7 the felly, and 8 the hub of the hub. Through this tube passes a rod15, one extremity of which is provided with a head 16 which engages theinner tube 17 of the tire. Adjacent the head 16 is a collar 18 slightlylarger than the head and which has a limited movement in a sleeve 19which is threaded into a demountable rim 60f the wheel. This screwsleeve has a flange 21 extending into a space 22 between the rim 6 and aband 23 applied to the felly. The upper extremity of the'rod 15 isthreaded into the head 16 whereby the permit theremoval of the rim 6 ina lateral cated within a hollow bolt 30.

-is held in place in direction.

The rod 15 is composed of two members 24 and 25 having a threadedconnection, as

shown at 26, whereby the rod may be adjusted lengthwise to compensatefor variation in the diameter of wheels.

The inner extremity of the rod is preferably flattened as shown at 4 andadapted to enter, arecess'27 formed in a plunger 28 which is acted onbya spiral sprin 29 lone extremity of the spring 29 bears against a lug31 threaded into one extremity of the hollow bolt and provided with alongitudinal perforation 32 adapted to receive a small rod 33 having athreaded end 34 adapted to enter a threaded recess 35 formed in the endof the plunger 28 for the purpose of returning the latter to its normalposition after it has been projected by its spring.

Normally, or when the inner tube of'the tire is under the properpressure, the rod 24 is thrust inwardly to cause its extremity 4 toengage a recess 27 of the plunger and lock the latter against movementlongitudinallyin the hollow bolt, the latter being passed through thehub of the wheel parallel with the axis of the latter. This' bolt thehub by a nut 36 which is screwed to engagement with the hub on one sidewhile the head 87 of the hollow bolt engages the hub on the oppositeside. This bolt is provided interiorly with a groove 38 adapted toreceive feathers or tongues 39 formed on the plunger in order tomaintain the latter in a uniform position |within the bolt so that therecess 27 will always 'be in position, to receive the extremity .4 ofthe rod. The nut is provided interiorly with a flange 40 which engagesthe end of the bolt, this flange being slotted as shown at 41 toharmonize with the depth of the groove 38 in the bolt. In applying thenut, it is stopped just before it is screwed home so that the slot 41,isin register with the groove 38 of the bolt. The plunger is then appliedby inserting it endwise in the hollow bolt from the end opposite thehead. After this is done, the nut is turned sufliciently to throw theslot 41 out of register with the groove 38 thus preventing the plungerfrom moving fart-her outwardly than is necessary to cause one of itsfeather members 39 to engage the flange 40 of the nut.

The outer extremity of the plunger as illustrated in thed'rawing'isequipped with an enlarged head 42 which the nut is recessed, as shown at43, to receive. This headiscored out as shown at 44 to receive a spiralspring 45, one extremity of which bears on the head of the plunger andthe other extremity engages the. flange 40 of the nut. This spring 45coiiperates with the spring 49 to project the plunger to the positionshownin Fig. 4 when it is released by the outward movement of the rod25. This auxiliary spring 45 may be used or not as desired, as thesingle spring 29 may be of sufficient strength for the purpose. The cap42 of the plunger is connected therewith by meansof a reduced threadedpart 46 formed on the end vof the body of the plunger and entering thethreaded recess a formed in the cap. I

'When the plunger isextended as shown in Fig. 4 in full lines and bydotted lines in Fig. 2, it engages the projected extremity 47 of acontact 48 mounted in a sleeve 49 secured to a collar 50 fast on therear axle 9 of the machine. This sleeve isconnected with the collar bymeans of a hollow bolt 51 which surrounds the sleeve and. has a threadedpart 52 passing through an open ing in the collar 50,- a nut.53 beingapplied to the bolt on theopposite side of the collar from the bolthead.

The contact 48 is normally held. in the projected position by means of apin 3 which enters a small recess 54 formed in the sleeve, the pin beingacted on by a coil spring 56 located in a transverse recess formed inthe contact. The-recess 54 is of such shape that the pin 3 is caused todisengage it when the plunger 28 is extended,

cumferentially grooved as shown at 59 to receive a coil-spring 60 whichsurrounds the electrode and normally has a tendency to hold it'in itsnormal position. The electrode is locked in place within the sleeve bya' screw-cap 61. This special construction makes it practicable to movethe electrode within its sleeve far enough to restore the contact 48 toits normal position after it has been acted upon by the plunger 28.

Connected with the electrode 57 is an electrical conductor 62 whichleads to an incandescent lamp 63 which is connected by a conductor 64with a conductor 65 from which leads a wire 66 to an, electric bell orbuzzer 67 from which another wire 68 leads to one pole 69 of abattery70; from the opposite pole 71 a wire 72 leads to the metal frameof the machine with which it is connected at a point 7 3 whereby thecircuit is closed through one of the lamps and the shown at 58, and thisinsulated member cir- I buzzer or bell when the plunger 28 engages 12 ithe contact 48, since the said contact 15 mounted in the metalframe-work of the machine.

As heretofore describedthe device has ,67 from which leads the the Theopposite end of this arm is adjustably connected as shown at 77 with anarm 78- rigidly secured as shown at- 79 to a projection 80 connectedwith the hub of the front wheel, the said projection being connected asshown at 81 with a rod 82 of thesteering mechanism. By adjusting themember 78 upon the projection 80 and by regulating the relative positionof the two members 7 and ,78, the sleeve 49 carrying the movable contactand the electrode may always be held in the proper relative positionwith reference LU the plunger 28 carried by either front Wheel of thevehicle.

In explaining the electrical circuit, it may be stated that a Wire 83leading from the electrode 57 passes to'a lamp 84, whence a Wire 85leads to the Wire 65 which is con? nected by the wire 66 with a bell orbuzzer wire 68 to'one pole of the battery 10, as heretofore explained,the circuit being completed by connecting the opposite poles 71 of thebattery with frame-work of the machine as shown at 73.

ation of my improved device understoo As soon as the inner tube 17 issoftened or the air-pressure therein reduced beyond a will be readily vpredetermined degree, the-outer extremity of the rod 24 will be causedto indent the tube as shown in Fig. 6 whereby the plunger 28 will bereleased and extended by its spring or springs to cause it to strike theexposed extremity 47 of the movable contact whereby the latter isactuated 53 from the recess 54 whereby the contact is moved intoengagement with the electrode 57 closing the circuit through thesignaling device, as heretofore explained. When the contact 48 is inengagement with the electrc-de, the pin 3 is in engagement with a secondrecess 86 separated and temporarily holds the contact in its adjustedposition. When, however, it is desired to reset the. contact, theelectrode is moved inwardly against its spring 60 and caused to engagethe adjacent extremity of the contact 48, sufiicient force being exertedto disengage the pin .3 from the recess 86 and move the contact farenough to cause its point to engage the recess54 thus restoring thecontact to its normal position. Prior to this the plunger is. restoredto its normal split extremity of the arm.

From the foregoing description the operreleased, a contactin the path todisengage its pin from the recess 54- position by the use of the smallrod 33 which is threaded into one end of the plunger when the latter ismoved endwise within its hollow bolt with suflicient force to move therod 15 against the inflated inner tube and cause the rod to recess 27 ofthe plunger is brought into register with the inner end of the pressureof the tire-tube will throw the inner end of the rod into the recess 27and again locking the plunger inits normal position.

While/ I have described the apparatus mounted on the wheel and composedof the indent the same until the rod when the rod 15 and the plunger 28as employed for .forth in the appended claims.

Having thus I claim is:

1.. In a combined tire-pressure indicator and electric signal, thecombination with the frame-work of the vehicle, an electric circuit anda signal therein, a wheel and its tire, of a spring-pressed plungertransversely arranged in the hub of the wheel, aradially arrangedendwise-movable rod, one extremity of which engages the tire while itsopposite extremity; engages a recess in the plunger and locks the latteragainst movement until the tire-pressure is reduced beyond apredetermined degree, when the plunger is of the reduring eachrevolution of the described my invention,what

leased plunger wheel and adapted to be actuated by the plunger to closethe said circuit through the signal.

2. In a combined tire-pressure indicator and electric signal, thecombinationwith the frame-work of the vehicle, an electric circuit and asignal therein, a wheel and its tire, of a spring-pressed lungertransversely arranged in the hub of the wheel, a radially arrangedendwise-movable rod, one extremity of which engages the tire while itsopposite extremity engages a recess in the plunger and locks the latteragainst movement until the tire-pressure is reduced beyond apredetermined degree, when the plunger is released, a contact in thepath of the released plunger during each revolution of the wheel andadapted to be actuated by th s plunger to close the said circuit throughthe signal, and means for automaticallylocking the contact in theopen-circuit position when the plunger is locked against movement by therod, and in position after it has been actuated by the plunger.

3. The combination with the frame-work the closed-circuit tremitybearing against of a vehicle, an electric circuit, a signal therein, aWheel pressed plunger transversely arranged in the hub of the wheel, aradially arranged endwise-movable rod, one extremity of which engagesthe tire while its opposite extremity engages a recess in the plungerand locks the latter against movement until the tire-pressure is reducedbeyond a predetermined degree, when the rod moves to release theplunger, a contact mounted in the frame-work of the machine and havingone extremity in the path of the plunger when released once during eachrevolution of the wheel, the extremity of the contact being fashioned tobe actuated in an endwise direction by the engagement of the releasedplunger when rotating with the wheel.

I. The combination with the frame-work of a vehicle, an electriccircuit, a signal therein, a wheel and its tire, of a springpressedplunger transversely" arranged in the hub of the wheel, a radiallyarranged endwise-movable rod, one extremity of which engages the tirewhile its'opposite extremity engages a recess in the plunger the latteragainst movement until the tire-v pressure is reduced beyond apredetermined degree when the rod moves toward the tire to release theplunger, a contact electrically connected with one pole of theelectrical source and arranged to be actuated by the released plunger,and an electrode electrically connected with the other pole of thesource, the contact and electrode being in alinement whereby the contactwhen actuated by the plunger is brought into electrical connection withthe electrode to close the circuit.

5. In a tire pressure indicator and signal,

the combination. with a wheel, its tire and a signal to be operated, ofa spring pressed plunger mounted on the wheel, said plunger having aninclined wall, a rod radially mounted on the wheel and having'o-ne exthetire, the other extremity being beveled off to form an incline parallelwith the said wall of the plunger and resting there-against when thepressure in the tire is above a predetermined point to hold the plungerin retracted-position, said rod being movable longitudinally, wherebyit' may be thrust aside by the plunger when the pressure in the tirefalls below said predetermined point.

and its tire, of a springally on the wheel and locks 6. In combination,a vehicle frame, a wheel having a pneumatic tire, a closed casing, onepart of which is mounted upon the wheel and another part of which ismounted upon the frame, said parts being rotatable with relation to eachother, a plunger mounted upon the wheel and extending into the casing, asecond plunger mounted upon the frame and extending into the casing, an

electric circuit, said second named plunger being adapted to close saidcircuit when in one position, means controlled by the pressure in thetire for causing said first named plunger to protrude into the path ofthe second plunger and removable means adapted to be attached to theaccessible end of the first named plunger for withdrawing it from theactuated position.

7 In a tire-pressure indicator, nation with the wheel, its tire, and asignal to be operated, of a spring-pressed plunger mounted on the wheel,a rod mounted radiand having one extremity in engagement with the tire,and the other extremity in locking engagement with the plunger when thetire is under a predetermined pressure, and means for movingthe rodoutwardly to release the plunger when the tire-pressure is reduced, amovable member arranged in the path of the release plunger for operatingthe signal, means for automatically locking the movable member in thesignal-operating position, means for relooking it in the last namedposition.

'8. In combination with awheel, and pneumatic tire, a plungertransversely arranged near the hub of the wheel, said plunger havin asocket with inclined walls, a rod radially mounted in the wheel havingone extremity in engagement with the tire and the opposite extremitybeveled ofi to fit the aforesaid socket, said rod being adapted to beheld in engagement with the said socket by a normal. tire pressure and aspring adapted, when pressure in the tire falls below a certainpredetermined point, to thrust aside said rod and operate the plunger.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES C. CLEVELAND. Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, I A. E. ADAMS.

the combi-

